Women played an important role during the War of Independence and the
Civil War. Lena Whelan of the Dublin Road is pictured here in her Cumann na mBan (Womenís Army) uniform. The bandolier belonged to Tom Seely
of Tullow Street, who was active in the I.R.A. movement. In 1997 Carlow
County Heritage Society returned the bandolier to Tomís grandson Fintan
Seely, who is a well-known New York publican. It is now on display in his
pub in Manhattan. My (Michael Purcell's) own mother was in
Cumann na mBan and in 1923 she was interned in Kilmainham Jail. In 1927
Lena Whelan married Dick Clifford, an ex-British Army soldier. This
postcard came to me (Michael Purcell) courtesy of Lenaís
niece Catherine Smith of Smithís Newsagency.

Source: Michael Purcell

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